Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conduit process in vulcanian eruptions at Sakurajima volcano, Japan: Inference from comparison of volcanic ash with pressure wave and seismic data

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To elucidate the conduit processes controlling the amplitude of air pressure waves (A pw) from vulcanian eruptions at the Sakurajima volcano, Japan, we examine ash particles emitted by eruptions preceded by swarms of low-frequency B-type earthquakes (BL-swarms). We measure the water content of glassy ash, an indicator of shallow magma storage pressure, and vesicle textures, such as vesicle number density (VND). These data allow us to reconstruct the shallow conduit by comparing vesicularity with inferred pressure, and therefore depth, of magma storage. The results show that VND increases with depth, implying formation of a dense, outgassed magma cap underlain by more-vesicular, less-outgassed, magma. The VND and water content in the glassy ash positively correlate with the duration of BL-swarms, suggesting that such seismic signals reflect upward migration of deep gas- and vesicle-rich magma. Finally, it is determined that A pw positively correlates with VND, suggesting that the amplitude of the air pressure waves is controlled by the amount of accumulated gas- and bubble-rich magma below the dense magma cap.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burgisser A, Poussineau S, Arbaret L, Druitt TH, Giachetti T, Bourdier JL (2010) Pre-explosive conduit conditions of the 1997 vulcanian explosions at Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat: I. pressure and vesicularity distributions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 194(1–3):27–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham CW (1994) Development of the Burnham model for prediction of H2O solubility in magmas. Rev Mineral 30:123–129

    Google Scholar 

  • Clarke AB, Stephens S, Teasdale R, Sparks RSJ, Diller K (2007) Petrologic constraints on the decompression history of magma prior to Vulcanian explosions at the Souffiere Hills volcano, Montserrat. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 161(4):261–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colo L, Ripepe M, Baker DR, Polacci M (2010) Magma vesiculation and infrasonic activity at Stromboli open conduit volcano. Earth Planet Sci Lett 292(3–4):274–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dellino P, LaVolpe L (1996) Image processing analysis in reconstructing fragmentation and transportation mechanisms of pyroclastic deposits. the case of Monte Pilato-Rocche Rosse eruptions, Lipari (Aeolian islands, Italy). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 71(1):13–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diller K, Clarke AB, Voight B, Neri A (2006) Mechanisms of conduit plug formation: Implications for vulcanian explosions. Geophys Res Lett 33(20)

  • Hammer JE, Cashman KV, Hoblitt RP, Newman S (1999) Degassing and microlite crystallization during pre-climactic events of the 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, Philippines. Bull Volcanol 60(5):355–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heiken G, Wohletz K (1985) Volcanic ash. University of California Press, Los Angeles, p 246

    Google Scholar 

  • Hui HJ, Zhang YX (2007) Toward a general viscosity equation for natural anhydrous and hydrous silicate melts. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 71(2):403–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iguchi M (1994) A vertical expansion source model for the mechanisms of earthquakes originated in the magma conduit of an andesitic volcano: Sakurajima. Japan, Bull Volcanol Soc Japan, 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Iguchi M, Yakiwara H, Tameguri T, Hendrasto M, Hirabayashi JI (2008) Mechanism of explosive eruption revealed by geophysical observations at the Sakurajima, Suwanosejima and Semeru volcanoes. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 178(1):1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ishihara K, Iguchi M (1989) The relationship between micro-earthquake swarms and volcanic activity at Sakurajima volcano, 32B-1. Annual Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Kyoto

  • Ishihara K, Kobayashi T (1988) Recent volcanic activity at Sakurajima volcano. Bull Volcanol Soc Japan 33:269–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamo K (1978) Some phenomena before the summit crater eruptions at Sakura-zima volcano. Bull Volcanol Soc Japan 23:53–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennedy B, Spieler O, Scheu B, Kueppers U, Taddeucci J, Dingwell DB (2005) Conduit implosion during vulcanian eruptions. Geology 33(7):581–584

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klug C, Cashman KV (1996) Permeability development in vesiculating magmas: implications for fragmentation. Bull Volcanol 58(2–3):87–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lautze NC, Houghton BF (2005) Physical mingling of magma and complex eruption dynamics in the shallow conduit at Stromboli volcano, Italy. Geology 33(5):425–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martel C, Bourdier JL, Pichavant M, Traineau H (2000) Textures, water content and degassing of silicic andesites from recent plinian and dome-forming eruptions at Mount Pelee volcano (Martinique, Lesser Antilles arc). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 96(3–4):191–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minakami T (1974) Seismology and volcanoes in Japan. In: Civetta L, Gasparini P, Luongo G, Rapolla A (eds) Physical volcanology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–27

  • Miwa T, Toramaru A, Iguchi M (2009) Correlations of volcanic ash texture with explosion earthquakes from vulcanian eruptions at Sakurajima volcano, Japan. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 184(3–4):473–486

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan DJ, Jerram DA (2006) On estimating crystal shape for crystal size distribution analysis. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 154(1–2):1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nairn IA (1976) Atmospheric shock-waves and condensation clouds from Ngauruhoe explosive eruptions. Nature 259(5540):190–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Navon O, Lyakhovsky V (1998) Vesiculation processes in silicic magmas. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 145(1):27–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okumura S, Nakamura M, Nakashima S (2003) Determination of molar absorptivity of IR fundamental OH-stretching vibration in rhyolitic glasses. Am Mineral 88(11–12):1657–1662

    Google Scholar 

  • Proussevitch AA, Sahagian DL, Kutolin VA (1993) Stability of forms in silicate melts. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 59(1–2):161–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sekine T, Katsura T, Aramaki S (1979) Water saturated phase relations of some andesites with application to the estimation of the initial temperature and water pressure at the time of eruption. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 43(8):1367–1376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schipper CI, White JDL, Houghton BF, Shimizu N, Stewart RB (2010) Explosive submarine eruptions driven by volatile-coupled degassing at Lo′ihi Seamount, Hawai′i. Earth Planet Sci Lett 295(3–4):497–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stolper E (1982) Water in silicate-glasses—an infrared spectroscopic study. Contri Mineral Petrol 81(1):1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szramek L, Gardner JE, Hort M (2010) Cooling-induced crystallization of microlite crystals in two basaltic pumice clasts. Am Mineral 95(4):503–509

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taddeucci J, Pompilio M, Scarlato P (2004a) Conduit processes during the July–August 2001 explosive activity of Mt. Etna (Italy): inferences from glass chemistry and crystal size distribution of ash particles. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 137:33–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taddeucci J, Spieler O, Kennedy B, Pompilio M, Dingwell DB, Scarlato P (2004b) Experimental and analytical modeling of basaltic ash explosions at Mount Etna, Italy, 2001. J Geophys Res-Solid Earth 109:B08203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Takeuchi S, Okumura S, Yamanoi Y (2006) Pressurization processes of magmas in a shallow conduit to cause vulcanian eruption. Japanese Magazine of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 35:144–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toramaru A (1988) Formation of propagation pattern in 2-phase flow systems with application to volcanic eruptions. Geophys J Int 95(3):613–623

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toramaru A (2006) BND (bubble number density) decompression rate meter for explosive volcanic eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 154(3–4):303–316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toramaru A, Noguchi S, Oyoshihara S, Tsune A (2008) MND (microlite number density) water exsolution rate meter. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 175(1–2):156–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turcotte DL, Ockendon H, Ockendon JR, Cowley SJ (1990) A mathematical-model of vulcanian eruptions. Geophys J Int 103(1):211–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright HMN, Cashman KV, Rosi M, Cioni R (2007) Breadcrust bombs as indicators of vulcanian eruption dynamics at Guagua Pichincha volcano, Ecuador. Bull Volcanol 69(3):281–300

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamanoi Y, Takeuchi S, Okumura S, Nakashima S, Yokoyama T (2008) Color measurements of volcanic ash deposits from three different styles of summit activity at Sakurajima volcano, Japan: conduit processes recorded in color of volcanic ash. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 178(1):81–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang M, Salje EKH, Bismayer U, Groat LA, Malcherek T (2002) Metamictization and recrystallization of titanite: an infrared spectroscopic study. Am Mineral 87(7):882–890

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The ash samples used in this study were collected by many researchers employed fat SVRC. We would like to deeply thank Dr. M. Iguchi for the instruction on the Sakurajima volcano. We would like to thank Dr. M. Nakamura for helpful discussions. The comments of Drs. T. Ikeda and T. Miyamoto served to clarify this study. We thank Dr. S. Yoshimura for providing obsidian. We are grateful to Drs. J. Taddeucci and K. Cashman for constructive review. We also thank Dr. M. Ripepe and Dr. J. White for editorial support. This study is supported by research fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists and by the Global Center of Excellence program at Tohoku University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geophysics, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Aramaki-Aza Aoba 6-3, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8578, Japan

    T. Miwa

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Graduate School of Sciences, Kyushu University, 6-10-1 Hakozaki, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8581, Japan

    A. Toramaru

Authors
  1. T. Miwa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Toramaru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. Miwa.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: M. Ripepe

Preprint submit to Bulletin of Volcanology

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 489 kb)

ESM 2

(PDF 118 kb)

ESM 3

(PDF 133 kb)

ESM 4

(PDF 234 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Miwa, T., Toramaru, A. Conduit process in vulcanian eruptions at Sakurajima volcano, Japan: Inference from comparison of volcanic ash with pressure wave and seismic data. Bull Volcanol 75, 685 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-012-0685-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-012-0685-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation